Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a podcast interview with Gadi Taub, said that the people of Gaza must be allowed to leave voluntarily, comparing the Strip’s restrictions to North Korea. Netanyahu stated that a majority of Gazans, between 50% to 80%, wish to leave, and called on countries to stop blocking their emigration. "For God’s sake, open the door, let them leave!" he said, adding that Gazans are denied the right to move freely that billions of people worldwide enjoy.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s latest remarks on Gazan emigration, made in a podcast interview with Gadi Taub, add a personal and urgent tone to his longstanding policy position. The full transcript, released Tuesday, includes the quote “For God’s sake, open the door, let them leave!” and cites a majority of Gazans—between 50% and 80%—as wishing to leave the Strip.
Netanyahu’s call for voluntary emigration has been a recurring theme in his public addresses. In July, he told the cabinet that Gaza reconstruction depends on disarmament, and that residents who wish to leave should be permitted to do so. The Zioneer previously reported on the same interview on August 3, noting his comparison of Gaza to North Korea. The latest version provides additional details, including the specific percentage range and the direct appeal to other countries.
The remarks come amid ongoing diplomatic efforts regarding Gaza’s future. International pressure has focused on reconstruction, while Israel has insisted on security conditions. Netanyahu’s framing of the issue as a matter of basic human freedom—comparing restrictions on movement to North Korea—reflects an effort to shift the narrative toward the humanitarian dimension of the conflict.
The statement has not yet drawn official responses from the international community. The Zioneer will continue to monitor developments.
3 developments
- StrongNetanyahu: No Gaza reconstruction without disarmament; residents who wish to leave should be allowed
- DevelopingNetanyahu Urged to End Gaza Occupation and Advance Settlement in Northern Strip Before Elections
- DevelopingNetanyahu: For the first time, Lebanon's government tells Iran and Hezbollah to leave
- DevelopingMinister Gamliel: 80% of Gazans surveyed want to emigrate
Source and signal
- Open-source intake